Pablo Sandoval pitches perfect ninth inning

Leave it to Panda to bring some levity to the situation. I'm already more confident in him than Melancon (and some others). Of course, the Dodgers will say "It's hard to hit when you're laughing" but to them I would say "Duck the Fodgers".

from mlb.com

https://www.mlb.com/news/pablo-sandoval-pitches-perfect-ninth-inning/c-274318552

Panda pitching alert! Sandoval fires perfect 9th  Apr. 28th, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants-Dodgers baseball is serious business, but Pablo Sandoval's joyful spirit gave one of sport's most intense rivalries perhaps its funniest moment ever.

 Sandoval, a third baseman by trade, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the Giants in their 15-6 loss Saturday to the Dodgers. Sandoval's relief appearance had a practical purpose, since it spared Giants manager Bruce Bochy from wasting a reliever's energy in a lopsided game.

Most importantly, the sight of Sandoval pumping across strikes -- eight in 11 pitches -- entertained all who witnessed his outing. That included the Dodgers, whose closer, Kenley Jansen, laughed helplessly as he watched Sandoval.

"Have fun," Sandoval said. "That's one of the things we're going for every day."

Chris Haft has covered the Giants since 2005, and for MLB.com since 2007. Follow him on Twitter at @sfgiantsbeat and listen to his podcast.

Read more: San Francisco Giants, Pablo Sandoval

Sent from my iPhone

Giants club 4 home runs in rout of Mariners | mlb.com

This is great stuff from the Panda. Not just the Splash Hit off King Felix, but the tug on the GIANTS bar on the front of the uniform after crossing home plate. The big boy is back home and I can tell you, that kind of thing tugs at the heart. 

He is in a better place now and that's good. He was as out of place as a Panda can be in Boston and he needed to migrate back home. In a corporate world of data and numbers and dollars and cents, a little tug on the heart might do this Giants team a lot of good and not just from the Panda. 

from mlb.com

Giants club 4 home runs in rout of Mariners:

"By Chris Haft MLB.com @sfgiantsbeat
1:25 AM ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- Each of the Giants' four home runs in their 10-1 rout of the Mariners on Wednesday proved to be distinctive. None, however, was as special as the one by Pablo Sandoval.

It was a Splash Hit, touching down in San Francisco Bay as if an astronaut were aboard. It was an act of fulfillment, given Sandoval's pregame prediction that he would hit one out in his first start of the season. And it was hit by Sandoval, who remains beloved by Giants fans for his association with the franchise's World Series-winning clubs and his enduring charisma.

"I ain't gonna lie. He called it," right fielder Andrew McCutchen said. "He said he was going to hit a homer today."

That was an ambitious boast, since Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, a six-time All-Star and the 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner, was on the mound. But Sandoval, 3-for-8 with two homers lifetime against his fellow Venezuelan Hernandez, felt confident. Said Sandoval, "I was telling the guys I faced Felix before. I had a feeling that we were going to come to the field to do some damage today, as a team and as an offense.""

'via Blog this'

Pablo Sandoval is back where he belongs

This is a really good first step. The upper deck HR off Scherzer doesn't hurt either. 

A sincere, heart-felt apology always helps and Pablo really owned his actions here.
Who doesn't love a good redemption story?

Welcome back, Panda. 

Back Where I Belong | By Pablo Sandoval

Back Where I Belong | By Pablo Sandoval I got to my locker, right next to Hunter Pence, and I saw my old number 48 jersey in black and orange, and that ...

"Before I continue, I want to take a moment to apologize to the Giants and to the fans. I know I already have, and I probably will again, but I don't think I can apologize enough for the way I left — for some of the things I said. I said things I didn't have to say. Things I don't want to repeat. Things I didn't mean. I was just so emotional when I left San Francisco, and I didn't handle it the right way.

I made a mistake.

I'm very sorry.

And I understand how fortunate I am to be back with this organization. It's just such a blessing for me to be back in San Francisco — back with the team that has been there for me through so many ups and downs in my career. The Giants gave me my first chance to be in the big leagues.

Now they have given me the opportunity for a second chance."

Sent from my iPhone

38 Special - Back Where You Belong

Should the Red Sox be concerned about Pablo Sandoval? - CBSSports.com

Hate to say we told you so Boston, but we told you so. Good luck getting a good return on that $95 million, you're off to a good start. At least SF had Matt Duffy to turn to when a low-budget McGehee went soft and flaccid. Where do you go and how good does the replacement player have to be to bench a $95 million dollar A$$ET? Schadenfreude, schadenfreude wonderful schadenfreude.

from CBSSports.com
Should the Red Sox be concerned about Pablo Sandoval? - CBSSports.com:

Maybe Sandoval's playing through an injury -- that's always a possibility when a player struggles badly, broadly and suddenly. Maybe it's just a bad stretch that he'll come out of soon enough. Or maybe it's premature decline. Sandoval's still just 28, so he shouldn't be seeing any widespread erosion of his skills just yet. However, it must be said that Sandoval's relationship with basic conditioning is complicated, and he has a body type that tends to age quite poorly. Given the trends we're seeing and given the player we're talking about, yes, premature decline is a possibility. The Red Sox, of course, have invested $95 million in Sandoval, so they're certainly hoping all of this corrects itself soon enough. As mentioned, that may well be the case. That may even be the most likely near-term outcome -- the various projection systems certainly see it that way. However, you need not look very hard to find reasons to worry about Sandoval.

'via Blog this'

I love how the quotes from the story tip-toe around the issue (which is part of the problem dealing with Pablo, IMO).

"Sandoval's relationship with basic conditioning is complicated".
You think? Try virtually non-existent.

"He has a body type that tends to age quite poorly".
Understatement? From the photo above he has a body type that looks like it's about to deliver twins. Not the traditional body type seen on major league 3B men indeed and not one that lends itself to transitioning to DH. But WDIK?

"...premature decline is a possibility".
Well, I suppose there are worse descriptions a man could want to heat about his performance, but not too many.

Good luck with the relationship to both Boston and Pablo. It sure sounds complicated.

Isn't that what you hear just before the break-up? Anybody?

The Brandons and the Giants' Farm System | Huffington Post

So now the comparison goes from Casey McGehee vs. Pablo Sandoval to Matt Duffy vs. Pablo Sandoval.  For the Giants, it seems as if a veteran retread has to come in and fail miserably before a rookie can come to the rescue. Dan Uggla begets Joe Panik, Now Casey McGehee releases Matt Duffy from Prospect Prison. Before that one of the Molina's blocked one Buster Posey's path and Brandon Crawford had to wait for one of the Cabrera's to falter.

It's always something. 

from Huffington Post:
The Brandons and the Giants' Farm System | Lincoln Mitchell:

The Giants' ability to produce impact players from within has been central to their impressive success in recent years. The evolution of the Brandons from solid regulars to stars, and the development of another not very widely heralded prospect, Joe Panik, into a very solid starter are the most recent examples of this. The Giants have also gotten a bit lucky with their farm system. For example, although it is unlikely to look this way at the end of the season, Matt Duffy, a player about whom a year ago all but the most intense Giants fans had heard nothing, is quietly having a better year (.279/.324/.388) than the major star, Pablo Sandoval (.251/.317/.371), who he replaced. In an era that is more competitive, with more teams, and more safeguards against dominance by wealthier teams, the Giants continue ability to produce quality players from within is an extraordinary accomplishment and one that goes a long way towards explaining those three rings.

'via Blog this'


It almost seems as if this franchise is mentally locked in to their early 2000's draft and player development record, which was putrid. However, since about 2005 or 2006,  the Giants have been about as good at drafting and developing as any franchise going. The Bonds era was laden with free-agent signings and lost draft picks, the post-Barry era is loaded with draft picks and home grown talent.

The results speak for themselves. Bonds era, zero championships. The post-Bonds era, three World Championships. Draft and develop rules.  The Huffington Post has a sports section? Sheesh!!!

Giants sweep Dodgers!!!

McGehee needed this type of contribution to the team in the worst way. He looks like he is starting to press, he hasn't contributed much since the picture above, which is from Opening Day. 

from mercurynews.com
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/giants/2015/04/23/maxwell-knocks-winning-run-mcgehee-vogelsong-might-gained-giants-complete-sweep-dodgers/#more-19933

One at-bat isn’t the end-all, be-all (but( it’s a relief, I guess, is the best word I can think of,” said McGehee, who left for pinch runner Matt Duffy. “In that last at-bat, instead of chasing hits, it was, `Let’s just get in there and compete instead of worrying about the outcome.’ The feeling I had in that at-bat and that swing is something I’ll file away and hopefully be able to build off.”

Lately, he makes me nervous when a ball is hit to him, when he throws a ball across the infield and he doesn't really do much for me when he is AB, unless I get a sudden craving to see another rally killing DP being bounced into.

McGehee  has to start turning things around or the drum starts getting beat for more PT at 3B for Mr. Matt Duffy, the hit machine. I know it's early......but.........

It doesn't help McGehee that the Fat Panda is out-hitting him by over 100 points or so. 

The whole middle of the Giants lineup has been a big, fat doughnut hole to the offense. McGehee, Posey and Belt have to do more than hit their weight if the Giants offense is going to click. I'm going to leave Crawford out of it for now because if he keeps putting up the highlight reels defensively at SS, I've always said I could tolerate him hitting .190,  I just didn't really think he would take me up on it long-term. 

Crawford should be a much better hitter than he is, I've been saying that for years.

He makes this play routinely. The clip is from April 10th and he just did it again the other night.


http://m.mlb.com/video/?content_id=66780583&topic_id=8878828



http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/8878828/v83996783/ladsf-lincecum-induces-four-double-plays-in-outing

Crawford makes it look easy as usual

http://m.mlb.com/sf/video/topic/69972428/v57184983/ladsf-crawford-makes-a-great-play-to-turn-two/?c_id=sf

3/29/15: Brandon Crawford fields a tough grounder and makes a great play to start a 6-4-3 double play

"The great ones make it look easy..." and this was far from an easy play. Crawford just makes 'em look too easy, too routine. He's going to have to start doing back-flips when he goes out to his position or something, to become more appreciated. 

Other than that, Matt Duffy continues to make a strong case to stay on the roster and pushing Adrianza or perhaps Arias off. Both of the A-teamers are out of options and Arias has a decent sized contract, but neither one will slip through waivers unclaimed IMO. Adrianza appears to be wilting under the pressure of competition from Duffy. 

Justin Maxwell is starting to make the case to replace the power void in LF due to the loss of Michael Morse. First, he will likely start in RF due to the Pence injury, but once Pence gets back, perhaps a more permanent slot in LF. Blanco returns to his back-up at every OF position role. 

Belt continues to rake and there is some pressure on him to provide more power. His average is up. Posey is Posey and Pence will be Pence, but Belt needs to add more this season. 

McGehee seems to be scuffling a bit. I wouldn't mind seeing more out of him at this point. The McGehee v. Sandoval stat watch/comparison will be fully operational from Day One with Pablo continuing to open mouth and insert foot. 

I don't see why it was bad for the Giants front-office to admonish Pablo about his weight but it's OK for David Ortiz to do so. Move on Pablo, move on. You're a Red Sox now, trust me, we get it. You will fit in nicely there. 

Sandoval Fires Back at Ex-Teammate Huff - Puck the Fanda

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Pablo Sandoval challenged Aubrey Huff's claims following his critical Facebook post this week.

Pablo will fit right in with Ortiz & Company in Boston. It sure looks like self-indulgent assholes of a feather flock together, Did I mention I agree with Aubrey Huff's assessment?


from Bleacher Report:
Sandoval Fires Back at Ex-Teammate Huff:

"Who is Aubrey Huff?" Sandoval asked in response to a post made by the former first baseman on Facebook. "What is important here is to see where the person who made those comments is, and where I am now, that's what counts."

Huff, who played 13 years in the big leagues, ended his career in 2012 after the Giants declined the $10 million option they held on him for the 2013 season. He currently is a assistant varsity baseball coach at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego.

"I'm pretty sure their (sic) wasn't a tear shed on behalf of all the players, and the coaches when he signed with Boston," Huff's Facebook post from earlier in the week read. "It has always been about Pablo. He had the fans fooled but not the players! One of the biggest reasons he didn't want to come back is because the Giants made him workout on the treadmill every day! Pretty sure that was a driving force for him! Never the less [sic] he could have always been a legend in San Fran but ego always will come in to play when it comes to Pablo! Sorry for the rant just want to take up for the players who are there now holding their tongues, because they don't want to get in the middle of this! If you can't get along with guys like (Buster) Posey, (Madison) Bumgarner, (Matt) Cain, (Jeremy) Affeldt (sic), just to name a few, then maybe it's time to look in the mirror! Rant over!"

Huff was reacting to a Bleacher Report story last week in which Sandoval asserted he left the Giants because they "disrespected" his agent, and that "it is not about money, it is about how you treat the player."

Sandoval also was quoted as saying he missed only Giants manager Bruce Bochy and outfielder Hunter Pence.

'via Blog this'

Recall it was Pablo's agent who created the initial amateurish faux-pas by saying Sandoval wanted (implied: deserved) "Hunter Pence" money. Bringing another teammates name into your individual contract negotiation that your agent is running through the press is a double faux-pas. You bring an amateur to a professional negotiation and bad things are going to happen. This was a  bush league agent trying to compete in the major leagues and he pissed down his leg. That would be bad enough, but to piss on his clients teammates when his client is the one who has to live in the locker room is just plain DUMB!!

Pablo wasn't disrespected. He and his team were disrespecting others and the organization. He'll fit right in with his fellow Mr. Big Heads in Boston. It's not like Hanley Ramirez was a joy in the Dodgers clubhouse either.

Enjoy your Dominican milkshakes fellas. Another big-ass target for David Price this year.

Take a look in the mirror once in a while Pablo. Oh yeah, that's been a problem for you for quite some time it seems, along with the scale.

The question shouldn't be "Who is Aubrey Huff?", it should be "Who is the real Pablo Sandoval?"

Puck the Fanda!!!

Where in the world is Marco Scutaro?

It appears as if we are about to find out. No surprise given the comments from the brass, it appears very likely that where in the world Marco Scutaro will not be in 2015, is anywhere near San Francisco.

from HardballTalk:
Giants’ training staff preparing an update on Marco Scutaro | HardballTalk:

In his column for the San Francisco Chronicle, John Shea reports that the Giants’ training staff is preparing an update on second baseman Marco Scutaro, and adds that it likely isn’t a good sign.  Scutaro was only able to play in five games during the 2014 season due to recurring back problems. The Giants owe him $6 million in 2015, the final year of a three-year deal he signed with the club back in December 2012. The 39-year-old veteran was productive for the Giants in 2013, posting a .726 OPS. Shea notes that the Giants never considered him as a potential replacement at third base once Pablo Sandoval left.

'via Blog this'

To my knowledge, he never appeared on the bench this season during his rehab, as did Cain, Pagan, Morse, etc. Sabean's cryptic comment along the lines of "we have his phone number around here somewhere" was telling, as was the "we have no viable internal options to replace Pablo at 3B".

We know they don't want to play Posey at 3B,  but it's not much of a stretch to suggest that Scutaro, a former major league SS, could make the switch if healthy.

Combine those two statements and you get the impression that Scutaro will not be ready, willing and able to play anywhere for SF in 2015. Another $6M in salary flushed down the toilet.

We know Pablo felt disrespected. Now we may be learning that apparently somebody also pissed in Scutaro's Wheaties. Maybe spend some of the savings for not chasing / finishing in second place chasing James Shields for some sensitivity training for all Giants front office personnel and staff. Or start signing emotionally tougher players. Sheesh!!

Kendry Flores is the cost of replacing Panda

So now we learn the true cost of losing Panda, the replacement cost.

Juan C. Rodriguez ‏@JCRMarlinsbeat  8m8 minutes ago

#Marlins getting RHPs Kendry Flores and Luis Castillo from #Giants for Casey McGehee.

McGehee gives about the same production offensively, probably a bit of a drop-off defensively. He also comes cheaper at $3.5M versus Pablo's $8.5M or so last year. Maybe we can bring back Vogie now.

Kendry Flores is going to break a lot of hearts in Giant Prospect Prognostication-ville. He was a favorite of the stats crowd for his K/9 - BB/9  efficiency of about 4:1. He may not arrive until 2016 anyway, so a potential piece of the future leaves the franchise. Detractors would point to a bit of a drop off moving from Low-A to High-A as a bit of a warning sign against his chances of making the big squad. In Florida, he has more of a chance to advance. Luis Castillo is a non-prospect IMO.

from mlb.com
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=572309#gameType='R'&sectionType=career&statType=2&season=2014&level='ALL'

Pablo Sandoval says goodbye to Giants fans, hello to Hanley - Giants Extra

Pablo Sandoval says goodbye to Giants fans, hello to Hanley

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Alex Pavlovic

Sandoval posted that on his Instagram page earlier tonight. He also posted a picture doing Hanley Ramirez’s “lo viste” gesture and an old one with David Ortiz. On that note, I think we’ll learn in the coming days that Ortiz had a lot to do with Sandoval and Ramirez deciding to team up in Boston. We usually see that move in the NBA, but seems these guys really wanted to team up. The press conference tomorrow is set for 1 p.m. in Boston.

'via Blog this'

Giants options should the Panda thing not work out...

This is what we get? A 19-year old prospect? I doubt this is going to get it done, but whatever.

It seems as if the Giants should be around 50/50 to still retain Pablo given the Sawks renewed wanderlust for John Lester and the dollars he will require to sign. Toronto just signed Russell Martin and seems to be bidding on every available mega-free agent out there. The White Sox could still surprise from the rear.

San Francisco is still the best spot for Pablo overall unless he feels a compelling need to squeeze the free-agency lemon dry. If he weighs 290 and hits .220 in Boston for any length of time, especially after he signs for near $20 million per, do you think they go easy on him? Think it through Panda and Company. Sometimes you sacrifice dollars for quality of life.

from Bleacher Report / Baseball America:
8 Favorites to Watch in Moncada Sweepstakes:

One of the biggest stories in baseball is what will happen with Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada.

Trying to peg the market for Moncada is tricky. He’s widely viewed throughout the game as a premium talent, he’s able to play nearly anywhere on the field except shortstop, and he doesn’t need to fit a team’s major league roster immediately because he’s a 19-year-old who’s going to start his career in the minors. High and low revenue teams could all make a case to sign him.

While Major League Baseball has declared Moncada a free agent, Moncada has not obtained the specific license from OFAC that Major League Baseball requires players to have before signing, and there’s no clear timetable for when that will come.

San Francisco Giants

The World Series champions will have one of the lowest bonus pools in baseball. They have signed players the last couple years in the $500,000 neighborhood, but they have stayed away from the bigger-ticket items after spending heavily on Angel Villalona, Rafael Rodriguezand Gustavo Cabrera with little to show for their investment. The Giants are trying to become more active in the Cuban market, and with a fairly light farm system, Moncada would be a good fit, and a potentialPablo Sandoval replacement at third base should the Panda end up elsewhere.

'via Blog this'

How much "should" the Panda cost?

I like the methodology and the result derived from Fan Graphs Crowdsourcing effort: 5 years / $79-80M. 

from fangraphs.com
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-crowd-the-top-55-free-agents/#more-166995

#5 Pablo Sandoval (3B) 

---

Age	PA	BB%	K%	AVG	OBP	SLG	wOBA	wRC+	Off	Def	WAR
27	638	6.1 %	13.3 %	.279	.324	.415	.323	111	3.3	5.3	3.0

Median Years: 5
Median AAV: $16 million
Total: 5 years, $80 million

Average Years: 5.0
Average AAV: $15.9 million
Total: 5.0 years, $79.0 million

Will the Giants extend Sandoval a qualifying offer (about $15.3M)?
Yes: 96%. No: 4%.

Will Sandoval accept the qualifying offer, if extended one?
No: 96%. Yes: 4%.

There are multiple third-base free-agent options this offseason. Which of the following will record the highest WAR between now and his retirement?
Pablo Sandoval: 48%.
Hanley Ramirez: 34%.
Chase Headley: 18%.

But Mr. Market will care not what the masses think and one team could propel this number into the stratosphere. At least that is the fear among Giants fans. Since the entire off-season depends on re-signing Sandoval, I thought I would crunch the numbers and see what is the best number the Gainst could / should come up with. 

Hey, it's not my money!!

OK, for 2015 the Giants currently have Cain @ $20.83M, Pence @ $18.5M, Lincecum @ $18M (Ugh!) and Posey @ $17.28M according to Cot's Contracts data.  

-- SANDOVAL @ $17M here, lower than Posey and Pence for now. 

For 2016, Cain @ $20.83M, Posey @ $20.78 and Pence @ $18.5. 

-- SANDOVAL @ $18M here, still not Pence money, but stay tuned. 

For 2017, Posey @ $22.18M, Cain @ $20.83M, Pence @ $18.5M, and Pagan falls off as a Free Agent freeing up $11M. 

-- SANDOVAL @ $18-19M here. 

For 2018, Posey @ $22.18M and Pence @ $18.50M.

-- SANDOVAL @ $19-20M here. Ahead of Pence.

For 2019, Posey @ $22.18M and Pence  goes FA, freeing up $18.50 

-- SANDOVAL @ $20-21M here. 

For 2020, which is the sixth year, again SANDOVAL @ $20-21M here. 

So for 4 years you are @ $72-74M. The fifth year gets you to $92-93M and the sixth year fleshes out @ $112-114M and you get to stay in the best place in the world for the Panda to finish out his career and flesh out his legacy by walking among Giants. 

You're welcome!!!

  

Giants, Pablo Sandoval Making Progress Towards A Deal – On-Base Talk

If true, this is great news. Given that Brain Sabean has put all his 3B eggs in Pablo's basket, this becomes an almost must win for the Gigantes in the off-season. I can see where they bring him back in the 5 year/ $80 million range. Anything over that and I think it might hurt the franchise's future more by signing him than by letting him walk.

from On-Base Talk:
Giants, Pablo Sandoval Making Progress Towards A Deal – On-Base Talk:

Contract talks between third baseman Pablo Sandoval and the San Francisco Giants are rising to the point that many other teams are looking to different options at third, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. Olney also reported that, other teams are having trouble convincing Sandoval to sign anywhere other than in San Francisco. It was reported earlier this week that Sandoval wanted a six-year deal and wanted to stay in the Bay Area. 

 The 28-year-old has won three World Series championships, a World Series MVP, a Babe Ruth Award and is a two-time All Star. He also hit three consecutive home runs in his first three at-bats during Game 1 of the 2012 World Series against the Detroit Tigers. Sandoval was also a huge part of the Giants’ recent World Series victory, as he recorded an MLB record 26 hits in the 2014 postseason.

'via Blog this'

If you can get Sandoval to stay for 5 / $80, I could see the way clear where the Giants could then sign:

• Morse @ 1 years / $7M or 2 years / $15M
• Romo @ 2 years / $12M and he's making noises like he's rather stay in SF
• Vogelsong @ 1 year / $7M or 2 years / $15M

That leaves Peavy as the only loss and I can live with that one.

I still don't understand Sabean's comment to the effect that Pablo is the only option (Pablo or Bust) at 3B next year and they have no others in the organization.

“We don’t have a solution in house,” Sabean said. “It would have to come from the outside.”

Aside from Posey who could -- as an athletic ex-catcher like Sandoval was -- make the transition easier than you think, the Giants could move Marco Scutaro there rather than outside the organization and get some return on the $6.7 million they have him signed for. This say nothing about the efforts that Matt Duffy and Adam Duvall made late this year. What does that tell your prospects except "We have no faith in you. Your early efforts to impress us sucked".

The Gianst have options within the organization at 3B. They might not be as good as Pablo, but Pablo comes with considerable risks for every year over 3 on the long-term deal IMO and every dollar over $15-16M.

The Pence plus notion is for suckers. Let the Red Sox or the Blue Jays or the White Sox play sucker.

Several Giants will ring the cash register shortly - Who stays and who goes?

We're going to find out pretty quickly whether the core of the Giants stays intact or cracks. As I've said before, I think the Giants can be compete for Pablo Sandoval @ about 5 years / $80-$90M. If it goes much higher, he is likely to leave.

from SI.com
After another World Series title, what's coming for Giants in offseason? - MLB - SI.com:

For starters, series MVP Madison Bumgarner isn't going anywhere. While the 25-year-old lefty spent the past month making it clear that he belongs on the short list of the game's elite pitchers, he's not headed for a Clayton Kershaw-like payday anytime soon. Bumgarner just completed the second year of a five-year, $35 million extension signed in April 2012; he made $3.75 million this year, and will make $6.75 million next year, or $23.25 million less than the Dodgers' ace lefty. His contract is guaranteed through 2017, after which the Giants hold $12 million options on his 2018 and '19 seasons. Those options can vest based on innings thresholds, and increase to as much as $16 million if he wins a Cy Young award — still a bargain by the standards of the game's top-tier starters. Bumgarner is one of four Giants under contract through at least 2017, with Hunter Pence, Buster Posey and the injured Matt Cain being the others.

On the other side of the coin, the team does have several players headed for free agency, and they won't keep all of them, even with around $62 million worth of room between their 2015 commitments ($127.3 million, according to Cot's Contracts) and the $189 million luxury tax threshold. Closest to their core is Pablo Sandoval, who probably earned himself a few extra million dollars thanks to a .366/.423/.465 showing in 78 postseason plate appearances, with an OPS above 1.000 in both the NLCS and the World Series, not to mention some dazzling defense.

'via Blog this'

Jake Peavy likely will be too rich for the Giants blood and with Cain back healthy and Petit and option in the rotation, the starting rotation has enough quantity, a return to form by Tim Lincecum would help with the quality.

I think Romo and Vogelsong can both be retained at almost the same salary between the two of them. The Dodgers interest in Romo could be the deciding factor. I would like to see Romo stay in case Machi forgets how to throw the fork-ball and Strickland doesn't figure out how to keep left-handed batters in the park.

Michael Morse is the wild-card. The experts are assuming that AL teams are going to come a knocking for Morse to play a DH heavy role next year. If he's good with that, he may be gone. The problem signing Morse if he is going to want three years minimum and I would feel better with a two year deal in case the Giants need to make room for Mac Williamson or Gary Brown develops into more than a bongo drum for Hunter Pence.

I love the folks who say, well let Sandoval go, let Morse go, we'll just sign Hanley Ramirez or the Cuban free-agent Tomas or God forbid Melky Cabrera. Do they think those guys will cost appreciably less than retaining Sandoval or Morse? At least Jake Peavy is replaced by a returning Matt Cain. It's why he was brought over here.

The ghost of Aubrey Huff still lurks by the Giants cash register, that's for sure. That's creepy!!!

WORST BUSTER HUG EVER!!!

Giants capture 3rd title in 5 years - Dynasty? YES!! YES!! YES!!

It's cool that this is even a discussion. When they have to compare you against the top teams of all time, some of whom played in an entirely different era that was more conducive to building a dynasty ( ie: teams that played before the dissolution of the Reserve Clause ).

from Yahoo Sports:
New dynasty: Giants capture 3rd title in 5 years - Yahoo Sports:

Eight players have been on all three winning World Series teams: Bumgarner, slugging third baseman Sandoval, Posey and relievers Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo and Tim Lincecum. Matt Cain, too, but he was hurt this year.

General manager Brian Sabean, longest-tenured in baseball, can't put a finger on why the mix keeps working. He is proud of the core of players who were drafted and came through the system and played such a huge part this time.

"It's a testament to player development and scouting. That's what we all hope for, that you can plug your holes from within and build your team from within," Sabean said. "That's a surefire way to kind of keep things moving forward. It prevents you from having to go into the market, whether it's free agency or more so the trade market."

'via Blog this'

I'm more concerned with how many of the core guys can be re-signed. I think Pablo can be had for 5 / $90 which would be in the same neighborhood as the Hunter Pence money his neophyte agent was looking for at the beginning of the season. If it gets much higher than that either through Pablo's agent overplaying his hand or another team submitting a crazy bid and Sandoval is gone. Oh, and Pablo, tell your dumb-ass agent that comparing your contract to another teammates is bad form. There are plenty of other comparables he can make a) behind closed doors and b) after the season is over. By the way, I define a crazy bid as one that takes Pablo's number significantly over Pence's numbers and approaching or greater than Buster Posey's number. Let some other team take the chance on that one.  

Romo I think can be had by taking the $5M I believe he was making and the $5M Vogelsong received last year and splitting it $5.5M Romo and $4.5 Vogie or 60/40. You might lose both if Vogelsong gets a nice offer from another team, but Affeldt has the bullpen bar set at $6M and deservedly so. Plus, Casilla will be due a nice raise shortly, to say nothing of Bumgarner. Bumgarner recently signed a team friendly extension that seemed fair to the pre-legendary Bumgarner, but might have to be looked at again quite soon.

World Championships come with a cost, but it's a nice cost to have. WTH it's not my money, pass the hat among the billionaire owners.

Giants win in typical Giant style!!!

Let the debates begin!! The Giants confound the experts again, as all the Fox pre-game talking heads picked the Royals to win, and yet the Giants win instead. They announcer didn't notice the Giants had a chance to win until about the seventh or eighth inning and never gave them their props. And friggin' Buck whines and jokes about why he's despised as an announcer. He's a horses ass every step of the way.

Aside from Bumgarner's performance for the ages, the Giants amazingly close this one out without a HR in the series, with an 0-12 performance from their 1-2-3 hitters tonight and without much of an offensive contribution from their top offensive player.


The debate today seemed to center on whether or not this third title in five years stamps the Giants as a "dynasty". In modern day terms, I think they qualify. Chicago columnist Phil Rogers was on Sirius/XM saying that the Atlanta Braves were more a dynasty  since they won /dominated more consistently over a longer period of time in spite of not winning more than one World Series title. Leaving out the irony of a Cubbies sportswriter commenting on "what makes a dynasty", does he really think that Braves fans wouldn't trade an occasional flop for more World Series success? This USA Today graphic doesn't even list the Bravos.

This was Panda, as cool, calm and collected as Bumgarner would be later. And he backed it up with his own signature performance, both in this game and this series. Pay the man, just pay the man!!

If the Giants could find money under the seat cushions to pay Hunter Pence after he came over and sparked the team. If the Giants feel they could find enough money in the budget to make a competitive run at Jake Peavy, who openly flirts and makes googly eyes at both the Cardinals and the Cubs while the Giants are competing for this, Pablo's third Giants title, while Peavy by comparison pisses down his leg with his performance in the World Series and spends his free time polishing his future free-agent bona-fides, then you guys better damn well sign Pablo Sandoval first. He means more to the franchise and more to Giants fans than Jake Peavy ever while, so put that in your calculations and smoke it.

from CSN Bay Area.com
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-re-signing-sandoval-well-do-best-we-can

“

Pablo’s at the top of that list. We all know it. Every negotiation is different. Every intention on the part of the player is different. I know we love Pablo and he loves the Giants and we’ll see what happens.

”

— Giants GM Brian Sabean

And how about Jeremy Affeldt. Under-rated, under-appreciated Jeremy Affeldt. Turning in another spit and bailing wire performance that gets the ball to Bumgarner with the outcome still intact after it looked like Hudson had tilted momentum the Royals way. Affeldt righted the ship and I suppose for that gets awarded the victory. More folks than the official scorer should appreciate what Affeldt did getting the Win in this game.

from CSN Bay Area.com
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/affeldt-tearful-upon-being-named-winning-pitcher-game-7

“

I couldn’t be more honored that I was a part of this. I can’t wait to see the people in San Francisco. We pitched, and pitching wins championships.

”

 — Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt

And how about Joe Cool, Joe Fundamentals or whatever nickname eventually sticks doing it with his glove rather than his bat. Where would we be without him righting the ship at 2B this year? And thank God for replay, right? Poetic justice. 

Way to go, Joe!!! Hanging around Brandon Crawford is beginning to rub off on your glove. Hopefully, your bat rubs off on his a little bit more down the road.

It looks like any game that ends in a Buster hug is good for Giants baseball history. If it's not Wilson, Romo and now Bumgarner, to say nothing of Cainer and Timmy for their no-no's and perfectos, these man hugs never get old.

And last but not least, Bumgarner clearly makes the grade among scouts and old-school pitching aficionados.

I guess the amazing, unbelievable, unassuming way the Giants won this year and in some of the same ways, the other two years, makes it somewhat easy to dismiss them an under-rated, lucky and undeserving of matching up with other juggernaut teams from the past and present. I can tell you as a close observer of this team, luck has nothing to do with it.  Pluck and perseverance and stick-to-it-iveness and stick-togetherness DOES. certainly. The essence of the word TEAM. 

Three titles in five years and we could be celebrating and debating about four titles in five years if they don't lose Posey to Cousin's cheap shot heard 'round the Bay Area.  That's not luck chumps. And what some of these guys would know about championship mettle is beyond me. What a brain-dead Chicago columnist would know about what constitutes championship mettle after watching a team that hasn't displayed it in over a century and whose last feeble attempt at same resulted in "Curses Bartman" to say nothing about blaming your failures on a Curse of the Billy Goat is kind of like, well, a Chicago football columnist opining about good, solid QB play. 

Celebrate Giants and Giants fans, You've earned it. Let some of there other guys piss and moan on each other while you're having another parade.